Conveyor means for rotary offset printing machines



J. J. TRIER May 6, 1958 CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 30. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AT TORNE Y5.

J. J. TRIER May 6, 1958 CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINES Filed Dec. 30, 1953 2 Shets-Sheet '2 Fig. 3

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ROTARY OFFSET PRINTING MACHINES James J. Trier, Elmsford, N. Y., assignor to R. Hoe & (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 30, 1953, Serial No. 404,460

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-177) This invention relates to ofiiset printing presses, and more particularly to such presses designed for multi-color printing on sheet metal or other relatively heavy and stiff material. y

In equipment of this character, the sheet carrying or forwarding mechanism is of a difl'erent character than in the usual sheet-fed offset press. Instead of the transfer cylinders or chain conveyors found in offset presses designed for printing on sheets of paper, a sheet metal press requires substantial tractive and supporting mechanism and moreover requires a greater range of adjustment betweenthe sheet carrying mechanism and the blanket and impression cylinders; for any change in thickness or flexibility of the sheets being printed requires a change in the relation of the sheet forwarding devices to these cylinders. The mechanism between units as herein disclosed permits free access to the printing units for the necessary operational adjustments and replacement printing plates, blankets and packing.

In the best multi-color sheet metal printing presses heretofore known the succesive printing units have been positioned at progressively lower levels so that the sheet travels in an inclined plane in passing throughthe press.

This very largely increases the height of the machine,

Also, a

especially at the point where it receives sheets. solid support for the elevated units must be provided, with corresponding increased weight and expense for the frame structures.

A still further object is to provide an improved drive arrangement.

With these objects, as well as still other objects-which will appear in the following description, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts, and details of construction, which will now first be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and then be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. v

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a printing machine embodying the invention in apreferred form;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine of Fig. l, printing cylinders and associated inking mechanisms being omitted so as to show more clearly the remaining structure;

Fig. 3'is an enlarged side elevation'view of one of the units of Figs. 1 and 2.

In Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a press including a sheet feeder A, four successive printing units B, C, D and E, and a delivery F.

The drive connections are necessarily some- 3 what complicated and standardization of units can be 2,833,21l Patented May 6, l 958 Each unit (C, for example) has plate, blanket and impression cylinders (10, 11 and 12) and an ink motion and water motion indicated generally at 13 and 14. As will be understood, the cylinders will be equipped with the usual mechanism for holding plates and blankets and will have the usual tripping mechanisms. These details may be conventionaLfor'm no part of the present invention and hence are not shown or described herein.

The relative positioning of the blanket and impression cylinders is important, the axes of these cylinders being in a close to vertical plane, which, however, is slanted by a small angle (about 7 in the construction shown). In consequence, the tangent plane to the blanket cylinder 11 and impression cylinder 12 at the printing point is slanted to the horizontal plane of approach of the sheet by this same angle, arching or wrapping the sheet slightly on the impression cylinder. sheet emerging from the line of impression is directed downwardly by a similar angle andencounters an upwardly slanted adjustable section 20 of the sheet conveyor comprises a frame composed'of side elements 21 connected together by shafts or rods '22, 23 on which'are rotatively mounted pulley wheels 24 carrying conveyor belts 25. Shaft 22 is rotatively journaled in sideframe. elements 26 of the machine. The conveyor section 20 is thus pivotally supported by the shaft 22 and it is provided with a handle 32 for manually swinging it between. the raisedposition shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 and the.

lowered position shown in dotted lines. This arrangement permits the ressman towalk into any needed adjustments or perform any other necessary operat ons on the unit. Means is provided for counterwelghting the conveyor section by an arrangement includ ing at each side of the machine, a link 27 pivotally ,con-

nected at 28 to a side element 21 and to a crank arm 29 that is secured on a cross shaft 30 journaled in the frame 7 elements 26 at each side of the machine. The links 27 as herein shown each consists of a lower section 27A, and

' an upper section 27B, which are screw threaded and joined by a turn-buckle sleeve 33 that provides means for adjusting the effective length of the link. Weights 31 which are secured to the shaft 30 are lowered when the conveyor section is raised and consequently the effort required to raise it is greatly reduced. Stop screws S are positioned to engage the weights 31 and are adjustable to limit'the upward movement of the conveyor section.

Means for securing the outer end of. the conveyor sectron 20 when it IS raised to the upper position, is provided as herein shown, by adjustable latches L'forined with books L2 which engage studs L1 secured to ears 34' projecting from side members of the said conveyorv sec- 7 'tion at each side of the machine. These latches are ad;

justably secured to arms L3 of bell crank levers having hubs L4. Each hook L2 is provided with a slot L6 and a bolt'secured tothe'arm L3 passes through the slot and is provided with a wing nut L7 which serves to clamp the parts together in the proper adjustment.

The hubs L4 are secured to a shaft L5 journaled inthe 1 side frames of the machine, and have other arms formed with handles L8 for manual operation of the latches. A tension spring L9 urges the bell crank levers and the latches carried thereby into position to engage the studs L1 when the conveyor section is raised to its upper posi- The forward edge of the the space made available when the conveyor section is lowered, and make position required for as aau over the pin and hold the conveyor securely.

An upper cross cat-walk section is provided, and is carried by brackets 36 pivotally mounted totheframe sections 26, and formed with lugs 37 and 38 engaging studs 39 in both the full line and dotted'lin'e positions-of.

the figure so as to position this cat-walk'elem entboth in the operating position (full lines) and in the swung back position (dotted lines), which moves'this element out-of.

the way to permit the operator toget atthe unit.

Further platform elements on the Operating side of the machine include plaforms 40 somewhat below the cross cat-walks 35, together with steps 41, 42 and 43. Suitable railings 44 areprovided in conjunction with these platforms.

On the drive side of the machine a continuous walk is provided, this walk including for each unit sections 45 and 46, all of which sections are horizontally aligned and which are provided'with a railing 47 carried in stanchions 48 mounted onthe walk sections 45. Access may-be. had.

to this walk by means of a step 49.

The machine drive comprises for each unita unit drive shaft 50, a gear box 51 having a short shaft section 52 whichis connected by coupling 53 to further shaft sections 54 between units, and 55 leading to the delivery. This entire drive arrangement is positioned under the walk 45+46 and within the outline thereof in, plan, providing a'compact construction. Gear box 51 adjacent the sheet feeding end of the machine is provided with a drive shaft carrying a drive pulley 61 and which is driven by belt 62 from apulley '63 carried on the shaft; of a motor Themotor shaft. and drive shaft 60 both extend transverselyof the machine and the motor, together with its belts, 'areipositioned withinthe extended plan profile of the walk 4 5 146. The sheet feeder 65 is conventional, and requires no special description. It should be noted, however, thatsince the printing units are horizontally aligned, 'the u'nifrieed notbe elevated as in the best previous'p'resses ofv this type, so that the sheet feeder likewise neednotjbeelevated, very much simplifying its support.

As willfbefapparerit from the drawing'and the fore-. going description, the various units may be-of standardized construction and may be assembled readily upon a level bed plate (Fig. 1)., constructed and supported, inany convenient manner. Each unit has its own frames 71and 7 2 fixed to'the bed plate as indicated. Additional conveyor frame structure comprising upper horizontal,

members 73 bolted or otherwiseffixed to the unit frame structure. and to thevertic'al frame elements 26 previously referred to are also provided. The bed plate may be formed as indicated in plan in Fig. 3, being composed of similar sections, each extending from an end. having fastening flanges 75 and7'6 to; an opposite end having two legs 77, 78 between which is an opening accommodating. the weights 3 1 as well as other mechanism. Alower walk 80 extending across the unit above this opening is provided.

adjacent a unit for receiving-a"sheet'therefrom,"a 'pivotal mounting supporting the said section for movement between an operating position-anda non-operating position and to permit a workmanto stand in-the-space -'beposition and in a swing back position.

2. A metal decorating offset press comprising a plurality of horizontally aligned offset printing units arranged for printing successively upon a sheet and conveyor means for forwarding a sheet from a printing unit to the next printing unit comprising a conveyor section immediately adjacent a unit for receiving a sheet therefrom, a pivotal mounting supporting the said section for movement between an approximately horizontal operating position and an approximately vertical non-operating position topermit a workman to'stand in thespaee between the pivotal mounting and the preceding printing unit which is normally occupied by the said section, when in operating position, and adjustable means for holding the said section in operating position and adjusting its angular position slightly about said pivotal mounting to regulate its height adjacent the printing unit, the last said means comprising yielding means for urging the said section toward-operating position and means for holding the said section in operating position.

3. A metal decorating press according to claim 2, in which the said yielding means comprises a counter balance weight.

4. A sheet metal printing press comprising an aligned interchangeable plurality of successive printing units together with means for conveying a sheet through the said successive printing units, bed plate structure supporting the said units and additional frame structure for the conveyor means between the said units, unit driveshafts extending transversely of the-line of units, a main drive shaft extending along the line of units t one sidethereside of the machine and overlying the said main drive tween the pivotal mounting and the preceding printing" unit which is normally occupied by the said section,{wheninsoperating position, a cross walk above the said-section shaft.

5. A metal printing press comprising in combination a printing unit and conveyor means for taking sheets therefrom, the said conveyor means comprising a section immediately adjacent a printing unit, means pivotally mounting the said section for swinging movement about an axis spaced from the unit, mechanism for supporting the said section in an approximately horizontal sheet conveying position and dropping it into an approximately vertical-position to permit access tothe unit by a pressman, and adjustable means for varying the first said positiomwhereby the height of the line of engagement ofthe leading edge of the sheet with the said conveyor section as it comes in contact'therewith upon emerging from the printing unit may be adjusted, the said adjustable means comprising a pair of links, connected to the said section, means for adjusting the length of the said links, ashaft, cranks carried by the shaft and connected to the links and yielding means urging the cranks to urge the said section toward operating position.

6. A metal decorating pressaccording to claim 5, in which the yielding means comprises a counterweight carried by the said shaft and positioned for movement near dead center when in non-operating position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 353,556 Goss Nov. 30, 1886 1,966,287 Fischer July 10, 1934 2,250,657 Seybold et al. July29, 1941 2,267,100 Huck Dec. 23, 1941 2,484,905 Peyrebrune Oct. 19, 1949 2,637,553 Ranger May 5, 1953 

